Not being a native Iowan, I am certain there are other IMP members who are more knowledgeable about our state capitol. Nonetheless, after two years of trading in our Texas citizenship to relocate to the Hawkeye State, my family finally ventured to Des Moines.

If you are looking for a quick and easy get away, Des Moines is a great city to enjoy a weekend trip. The drive is straightforward. Literally. Drive west on I-80. Less than two hours later, you will arrive to the city where our legislators are hard at work (insert winking face emoji here).

For our family vacation, we stayed in the downtown area at The Comfort Inn and Suites Event Center, located at 929 3rd St. There are many different option for lodging; nonetheless, my family was very comfortable at this location. We were able to walk to many of our destinations and enjoyed the complimentary, hot breakfast.

Some of the activities we did included:

Des Moines Downtown Farmer’s Market: The farmer’s market was really entertaining and accommodated a diversity of vendors and products. You can find produce, food, art, flowers, and live music. It is a fairly large and active scene, but not overwhelming. I would definitely recommend leisurely strolling by the stands, grabbing a bite to eat, and exploring the many vendors.

Science Center of Iowa: We were with family friends who had memberships to the science center in Minneapolis, so we were fortunate to save some money using the reciprocity offered with their membership. My daughter enjoyed the exhibits, hands on activities, and shows presented by museum teachers. She still talks about getting to touch a bull snake! The museum is definitely kid-oriented and on the smaller side. I would put this on the list only if you need a kid-friendly indoor activity.

Iowa State Capitol: Exploring the capitol should absolutely be on your to-do list if you have never been. We went on a free, guided tour, which was great for adults (and children who sit very still for long periods of time). If your family is not up for the guided tour, walking around on your own will still be an interesting and worth-while experience.

Greater Des Moines Botanical Gardens: Our family friends also had a membership to the botanical gardens in Minneapolis, so again we enjoyed the benefits of reciprocity. I felt this was a great experience for kids and adults. The gardens include both indoor and outdoor areas. Older kids can participate in a scavenger hunt to make their experience even more interesting. ​

Tacopocalypse: Tacopocalypse is a casual eatery featuring Asian-inspired tacos. My dentist actually recommended this spot. We weren’t blown away, but it was a fun spot with food you won’t find in Iowa City.

Le’s Chinese Bar-B-Que: We were pretty excited to eat some Chinese BBQ, specifically roasted duck and pork (char siu). This is definitely not a trendy eatery, but an authentic option we would never be able to find in the Iowa City area. Bonus: the left over duck made an awesome stir-fry when we got home!

Bubba- Bubba was a great spot with southern comfort food for Sunday brunch. I would highly recommend checking out their brunch while you are here. Everyone was very satisfied with their food (Especially my little one with her pimento mac and cheese).

Who in IMP has been to Des Moines? What restaurants and activities do you recommend adding to our to-do list for our next visit?

If you’ve met me in person, chances are you know I am from Wisconsin. We love it there! Recently we took a tour of the state. We began on the western side for an interview then made our way east to spend some time with family, then finally, we dropped the kids off at grandma and grandpa’s house and got a couple days to ourselves in Door County.

​Door County is the peninsula that sticks out into Lake Michigan, just northeast of the city of Green Bay. Most Wisconsinites will use their left hand as a map when describing where something is in the state. In this case, I’m referring to the thumb. To the west is the Bay of Green Bay and to the east is Lake Michigan. It’s a magical place that has a coastal New England feel, but is so much closer to home. According to Google Maps, it is 364 miles from my eastside abode, or a 5 hour and 43 minute drive.

This is my husband and my absolute favorite getaway! We’ve only visited during the spring and summer seasons...but fall would be gorgeous with all the forestry turning colors and there would be so much to do during the winter with plenty of recreational areas for outdoor winter activities. So no matter the time of year, Door County would have something for everybody.

On past trips, we went on a tandem kayaking tour- I’m talking a true 3-hour tour of kayaking! We’ve enjoyed a winery tour on a trolley and we’ve taken the ferry from the north end of the peninsula across Lake Michigan to Washington Island. We did the sailboat cruises around the Bay and even attended a famous Door County “fish boil.”

This past trip was kind of last minute, so we didn’t plan ahead like we’ve done in the past. It still turned out great! We enjoy driving from town to town and walking around the shops, checking out new restaurants and cafes and even hitting up a winery or brewery for a tasting. We love going to at least one state park to hike or just sit and enjoy the views of the water. Our days were still filled with fun, great dining and a lot of relaxation! We did attempt to go on a kayak tour of the caves of Lake Michigan, however the weather did not cooperate and unfortunately, it was cancelled.

One of the highlights of this trip was our morning spent in Peninsula State Park. The park is located along the shores of the Bay. We have known many people who camp in the park and spend a week just exploring it. We are not campers, but every trip we’ve been on, we’ve always fallen in love with something new there. We planned to rent bikes at the base of the park and ride through, but instead, we decided to hike.

We drove in toward the Eagle Bluff, parked and began the Eagle Bluff trail. It was about a two mile “difficult” loop that got us in caves, climbing rocks, and also allowed us to find some tiny private beaches. In addition to the miles of hiking available, the park also has a large public beach and a number of overlooks to stop at and just enjoy the views of the water. We’ve caught a sunset or two that have been glorious!

​If you are planning on a trip to Door County, here are a few “pro tips” to help you out:

First, do you want to stay on the Lake or on the Bay? We personally are “Bay” people and love staying in Sister Bay, Ephraim, Fish Creek and Egg Harbor.

What type of accommodations would you prefer? There are resorts galore as well as standard hotels. If you like to camp, there are plenty of options depending on whether you tent or use a camper. AirBnB is big up there as is VRBO if you are even interested in renting an entire house. And let’s not forget about the quaint Bed and Breakfasts located all over! It is nice to find a place with a kitchenette especially if you are there for more than a couple days. It takes away the need to eat out every meal.

What time of year will you be going? Door County is a very popular tourist destination. When looking at accommodations, if you are planning on going “peak season,” you will pay more than off, naturally. Our stay was a little lower because we did a Sunday-Tuesday trip.

What should we know about the restaurant scene? We love the dining in Door County. There are so many options! Whether you want fine dining or would rather hit up a place where the locals hang, there literally is everything! Just be mindful of their hours of operation. We found many were not open Mondays or only had breakfast served Thursday-Monday. Oh yeah, and its Wisconsin. Portions are huge!

Our first night out at LURE in Sister Bay left us offering the rest of the patio a taste of our Crab Rangoon nachos. (Yes, they were as amazing as they sound, but really, I think one order would have been enough for all of IMP!) In addition to LURE, we also enjoyed Bluefront Café in Sturgeon Bay, Wild Tomato in Fish Creek, Al Johnson’s in Sister Bay (in case you want some Swedish food with goats hanging out on the roof of the restaurant) and a tiny breakfast joint called Carroll House also in Sister Bay.

​Located only a little over an hour and a half away, Dubuque is a great destination for a family weekend trip. It is located along the Mississippi River, and the bluffs surrounding it show off a different landscape than what most people expect of Iowa (i.e., flat).

The best place to stay is the Grand Harbor Resort. They are located downtown right along the Mississippi and have an attached waterpark that is great for kids of all ages. They have everything from a zero-entry wading pool for the littlest of swimmers to larger tube waterslides. When booking at the hotel, you can get weekend passes for the waterpark bundled with your room to save some money. Or, if you choose to stay at a different hotel, waterpark-only passes are also an option.

Right next door to the Grand Harbor is the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium. They have a great area for smaller children where they can interact with some different exhibits and burn off some energy playing. There’s a large water table that allows you to build dams and float boats down the river—a particular favorite of my daughter’s. They also have different traveling exhibits that come through, so there is always something new.

If you are looking for some outdoor activities, the Mines of Spain Recreation Area is located just a few minutes south of Dubuque and has a good selection of hiking or cross-country skiing trails (depending on the season). The Julian Dubuque Monument is also located on the bluffs within the park and offers a great view of the river.

Another great option for an outdoor activity is the Heritage Trail, which runs from Dubuque to Dyersville (where the Field of Dreams is). It is a crushed limestone trail that is nice for walking, biking and running. There is also a stocked pond by the main parking lot with fishing platforms.

About 10 minutes south of Dubuque is Crystal Lake Cave, and while not an especially large cave, it is definitely worth a trip with lots of great formations. If you are looking for a larger network of caves, Maquoketa Caves State Park is only 30 minutes south of Dubuque and has scenic hiking trails linking different caves, formations, and overlooks.

Other attractions in and around Dubuque:

Fenelon Place Elevator (aka the 4th street elevator to locals), which is the world’s shortest and steepest railway. It travels almost 300 feet up the side of a bluff.

Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, which includes a peaceful Japanese garden and Koi pond, as well as some recreations from classic children’s books such as Peter Rabbit’s garden and the 3 Billy Goats Gruff bridge.

Swiss Valley Nature Center, which has 10 miles of nature and hiking trails. These trails are also used for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter.

I grew up in small-town Kansas, and have a soft spot for rural life. While I love Iowa City, I especially love exploring new places, meeting new people, and exposing my boys to the charm and beauty of small towns and country life. I started taking regular “field trips” with my boys last year, and I’m excited to share our journeys with you! ​Load up your kids and picnic basket, it’s time for a Friday field trip! Today, we are headed north for some outdoor fun and a sweet, local treat.

Our Itinerary:

Indian Creek Nature Center, Cedar Rapids

Dan & Debbie’s Creamery, Ely

Indian Creek Nature Center (ICNC) is roughly 40 minutes north of Iowa City. I prefer the scenic route, and followed Highway 1 through Solon, and then along the Cedar River. If you want to see some beautiful Iowa landscape, I highly recommend this route. My boys also loved yelling “Moooo” at the many cows we saw along the way.

We spent our first hour in ICNCs “Amazing Space,” which is their main campus building. Built in 2016, it is one of the most environmentally sustainable buildings in the country. Inside, we explored classrooms filled with taxidermy, puppets, and children’s books. We then said hello to a few animals who call the Amazing Space their home, including a turtle, toad, fish and snakes.

Also inside the Amazing Space building is a bird watching room, complete with comfy chairs, books, and a contained beehive. If you have a little one tagging along for this field trip, I recommend this area for any quiet time you may need. The older members of your crew will keep busy looking through the binoculars at the many birds, and peeking into the beehive. Have them search for the queen bee, that should keep them busy for a while!

Surrounding the main campus building are four miles of hiking trails that wind through 210 acres. You have your druthers when deciding which landscape you’d like to explore. Prairie? Woodlands? Wetlands? Take your pick!

The boys and I headed off on a prairie hike, but somehow got stuck inside the labyrinth trail. I guess that’s what happens when your guides are 4 and 3! I advise grabbing a trail map from the main building, or researching the trails online before you go!

The highlight of our trip to ICNC was the outdoor nature sensory trail, complete with a full-sized teepee, mud kitchen, and functional water pump, which was a big hit! My boys could have spent the entire day in this large, child friendly space. They can mud paint on canvas, balance on tree stumps, make mud pies, or do whatever their imaginations see fit. Your child (and possibly you) will most likely end up dirty, so wear appropriate clothes.

After a morning of hiking and play, we enjoyed our picnic lunch at one of the many tables throughout the nature center. Before leaving, we popped back into the Amazing Space to use the restroom (yes, there are changing tables) and browsed their gift store, Creekside Shop. Pick up some raw honey or fresh maple syrup to try.

Ice Cream Time!

The final stop on our field trip, Dan and Debbie’s Creamery, is located about 10 minutes south of the nature center. I had been waiting all summer to check this place out, and it didn’t disappoint!

According to their website, goal of the Creamery is to “provide the freshest, most wholesome farm to table dairy products in the area.”

All of the dairy products served at the Creamery are truly farm to table. On a small farm outside of Ely, 150 dairy cows are milked twice a day and are treated like cow royalty. Each cow is given a name at birth, is milked in a parlor, and housed in a sand bedded freestall barn. Months before a cow is to give birth, she is sent to pasture for some momma-to-be R&R. Now that’s what I call a babymoon!

Tours of the farm are available, but if you want the good stuff (the ice cream!) visit the Creamery, located in downtown Ely. This is where the milk from the farm is transformed into squeaky cheese curds, delicious ice cream, or bottled to sell, cream top. If you’d like to see the transformation first-hand, you’re in luck! Inside the Creamery is a viewing room, where you can watch the process from start to finish.

The ice cream was truly the best ice cream I’ve ever tasted. So fresh and creamy, not overly sweet, and served at the perfect temperature. Enjoy a cone at the store and buy a pint (or 6) to take home! The Creamery also sells a handful of other local items, it’s a one-stop shop for groceries!